Gas prices tally largest one-week drop of 2009

The good news continues in regards to gas prices. AAA New England's survey of gas prices in the area revealed that prices are down for the third consecutive week. Furthermore, the three-cent drop from last week to this week is the biggest decrease of 2009.

AAA's July 13 survey found that the average price for a gallon of unleaded fuel in New England was $2.569. While this is about four cents above the national average, the current prices are more than $1.50 per gallon less than they were this week in 2008.

Despite the fact that gas prices are dropping, you can still save a good chunk of change by carpooling or taking transit to work. Your employer offers you incentives to use these methods to commute, and if you'd like more info on how you can save money on your commute, don't hesitate to contact your company's Transportation Coordinator.

Clean air adds months to your life

Researchers at Brigham Young University have concluded that people in metro areas in the U.S. are living as many as five months longer on average because of the cleaner air they breathe thanks to air pollutions laws and regulations, according to a study released in today's New England Journal of Medicine.

The study cited the fact that these cities have reduced their pollution levels by one-third over the last two decades, while the life expectancy in these cities has increased by 2.7 years. Buffalo and Pittsburgh reported the biggest drops in pollution levels and also the highest increase in life expectancy over the two decades.

While this study does not prove that cleaner air is making people live longer, it does go a long way towards suggesting that the laws and regulations that are being put in place to protect air quality are a good thing, regardless of much they cost.

How will President Obama's administration impact the environment?

As this blogger points out, "The transition from a Bush Administration to a Barack Obama Administration implies enormous policy differences." That may be quite the understatement.

But what does this mean for environmental and scientific issues?

As far as the environment goes, Obama criticized the Bush administration's stance and reaction to global warming. During the campaign, the President-Elect called for an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emission in the country by 2050.

In the realm of science, the Bush administration drew heavy criticism for allegedly editing federal reports about global warming. Will the Obama administration continue this practice, or will the new President receive criticism for overstating the problems surrounding this issue, as many from across the aisle believe?

One thing's for sure: It will be interesting to see how the Obama adminstration deals with environmental issues and if the new President is able to keep the promises he campaigned on.

Two "other" greenhouse gases worry scientists

With almost all of the attention pertaining to greenhouse gases focused on man-made CO2, some other contributors to global warming are often forgotten.

The amount of two other gases—methane and nitrogen trifluoride, which come primarily from decaying ancient plant life and flat-panel screen technology, respectively—in the atmosphere is on the rise as well.

Of these two, methane, which makes up roughly one-third of greenhouse gas emissions, is the one that concerns scientists the most. Methane is released into the air from decaying plants, coal mines, landfills, and a few other sources. At the heart of this issue is the methane (from ancient plants) trapped in the permafrost and ocean floor of the arctic regions of the earth. As these regions warm, this methane will likely be released, hastening the warming of the earth.

For more, click here for an Associated Press article on the study.

A look at the Presidential candidates stance on green issues

The Daily Green (http://www.thedailygreen.com/) has an interesting analysis of the seven biggest green-related election issues, including energy costs, global warming and offshore drilling. The article includes a short background of each issue as well as the position of Republican nominee Senator John McCain and Democratic nominee Senator Barack Obama.

The next President will play an important role in shaping the policies that our country takes in relation to these green issues. Do yourself a favor and check out this analysis piece at http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/green-elections-guide-47082517.

Decrease in road travel

A story was posted on The Boston Channel’s website today. The story highlights the decrease in miles driven by Americans since November 2007. A 4.7% decrease was seen in the month of June alone, compared with June 2007. This brings up an interesting topic: tax revenue. U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters says, “We can’t afford to continue pinning our transportation network’s future to the gas tax”. In a nutshell, the less gas we purchase, the less tax revenue is received for infrastructure. We all know the condition of our roads and bridges.

Check out the article:

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/automotive/17178354/detail.html